Sunday, 16 August 2026 ⚠️ Real Incident

WhatsApp adds a new smart helper to catch scammers

WhatsApp is testing a new tool called Scam Alert that uses smart technology to spot tricksters. It warns you about suspicious messages from people you do not know.

What happened

Meta announced a new feature called Scam Alert for WhatsApp. It uses artificial intelligence to help you spot scammers before they can take your money or data. This tool is currently being tested with a limited group before it reaches everyone.

How it worked

The tool scans messages from people who are not in your contacts list. It looks for patterns in the way they talk that suggest they are trying to trick you. This scanning happens only on your phone to keep your messages private. If it finds something suspicious, it shows you a warning inside the chat.

How to protect yourself

• Turn on the Scam Alert feature once it is available on your device.
• Pay attention to warning messages that appear in chats with unknown numbers.
• Use the block or report buttons if the app warns you about a message.

Source: Stuff South Africa